Nugent brace downs Black Cats

19 September 2009 11:36

David Nugent came off the bench to score twice and give Burnley a 3-1 win over Sunderland at Turf Moor.
Burnley went ahead midway through the first-half, very much against the run of play, when Graham Alexander fired home from the penalty spot after Anton Ferdinand's clumsy challenge on Wade Elliott.
But Sunderland - who dominated the first-half - levelled when the ubiquitous Darren Bent beat the home side's off-side trap before firing home.
Sunderland continued to have the better of the possession in the second period, but the game turned when Nugent came on.
Within minutes he had risen to get on the end of Elliott's cross to give Burnley the lead.
Then with just four minutes left Nugent turned in the area and curled home a sensational third to make sure Burnley maintained their 100 per cent home record.
Steve Bruce's men had looked strong from the start with Fraizer Campbell in particular causing problems with a couple of early crosses testing the home defence.
Steven Fletcher had Burnley's first chance in the 11th minute when he gathered the ball from Clarke Carlisle and rammed a rising left-foot shot over the crossbar from the edge of the box.
Alexander was served up the chance to fire home the 12th minute spot-kick after Ferdinand was guilty of needlessly tripping the impressive Elliott.
Burnley came close to adding a second in the 19th minute when Alexander caught the Black Cats defence sleeping at a set-piece and Martin Paterson almost stole in at the far post.
Andre Bikey's hesitation let in Bent to hook a shot straight at Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen in the 21st minute but the visitors were struggling to maintain their early momentum.
However Bruce's men drew back on level terms in the 39th minute when Andy Reid played a superb delayed pass into the box which found Bent in space to slot the ball past Jensen.
Campbell almost put the visitors ahead in the 52nd minute when his low drive was blocked well at close range by Jensen after a neat lay-off by Steed Malbranque.
But with clear chances at a premium both sides looked to their benches with Kenwyne Jones on for the visitors and Nugent given his chance to steal the show.
Jones made the first major impact with his physical presence bundling over Tyrone Mears in the home box and earning a ticking off from referee Chris Foy.
But after Elliott had come close with a looping effort which just cleared Gordon's crossbar, the stage was handed over for Nugent to snatch another famous Clarets victory.
Nugent marked his stunning home debut in the 67th minute when he rose to meet a deep Elliott cross from the right and headed Burnley's second past Gordon.
And Nugent's second four minutes from time was even better as once again he was fed the ball by Elliott before turning inside the box and firing home a curling shot.
A bad afternoon for Black Cats boss Bruce got worse in the dying minutes as first Phil Bardsley then Kieran Richardson were yellow-carded.
Foy's final whistle brought a huge roar from the home ranks and even a cheeky banner proclaiming 'Nugent for England' in honour of the newest Turf Moor star.